The Statement from the organizers of FPSAC 2015 on MERS situation in Korea

posted Jun 27, 2015, 7:32 AM by FPSAC 2015 [ updated Jun 27, 2015, 7:34 AM ]

Dear participants in FPSAC 2015,

We, organizers, have been closely watching the situation for MERS outbreak in Korea since the onset.

One can check FAQ and press releases about MERS in English at the official government sites:

http://www.mers.go.kr/mers/html/jsp/Menu_A/content_A5_2.jsp

http://www.mers.go.kr/mers/html/jsp/Menu_C/list_C4.jsp

We quote two paragraphs from the press release of WHO on the issue, which is deposited at the above site:

In reaching this conclusion, the Committee noted that after the outbreak was detected, and after a period of organization, the Republic of Korea has strongly initiated actions to bring this outbreak under control. This includes use of multiple approaches to identify contacts and to ensure their appropriate quarantine and monitoring, as well as effective means to stop inappropriate travel of cases and contacts during the period of time when they are potentially infectious. Such efforts reflect adoption of the recommendations of the Joint mission. Based on the Committee’s advice and information currently available, the Director-General accepted the Committee’s assessment. She thanked the Committee for its work.

WHO does not recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions and considers screening at points of entry to be unnecessary at this time. Raising awareness about MERS and its symptoms among those travelling to and from affected areas is good public health practice.

Attached are the aforementioned WHO press release and the MERS statistics by Korean government:

• WHO statement on the IHR Emergency Committee.pdf

• 20150624_ENG_MERS Statistics.docx

From the facts that almost all patients are related to hospital visits, that the occurrences of new patients is going down, that the number of people in quarantine are decreasing, and that the government authorities are taking appropriate measures, we can say that MERS situation is subsiding and under control.

So conference participants should not worry too much but should pay attention to personal preventive hygiene. We will prepare hand sanitizers and masks for personal hygiene during the conference.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

We look forward to seeing you at FPSAC 2015.

Best regards,
The organizing committee